My unemployment saga! - Page 2

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldilocks

i can't help with the interview techniques i'm afraid - i'm just here with a questioning interjection...

i don't wan to put a dampener on this - but you think you'd be able to live alone on £16k p/a?
this is just on my / our experience... but we pay £545 pcm for a 1 bed flat, approx on £350 pcm on other bills / council tax / food

flat sharing might be a bit more cost effective if you have to move out - at least you'll have money left over for a social life too!

You're paying that much a month for a 1 bed flat in soton? excluding bills thats insane.

I think I'd be able to live alone on 16k, I've been quoted less rent on a studio flat in central london and after tax 16k is just under 13k and I don't have expensive tastes

Dymetrie · 15-11-2007, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidewinderINC

I think I'd be able to live alone on 16k, I've been quoted less rent on a studio flat in central london and after tax 16k is just under 13k.

You do realise that a studio flat in London means a room the size of a broom cupboard with a crappy sofabed, a cupboard as a kitchen and shared toilet/bathroom.... Don't you?

Oh yeah and **** heating...

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 18:32

I don't use heating, never have

That really annoyed my housemates last year actually but that's another story! I mean don't complain that it's cold in the middle of december if you're walking around the house in shorts and sleeveless T shirt.

And yeah, it wasn't much bigger than that

Dymetrie · 15-11-2007, 18:33

Fairy nuff

If you end up in London then I'm around somewhere... usually

goldilocks · 15-11-2007, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidewinderINC

You're paying that much a month for a 1 bed flat in soton? excluding bills thats insane.

I think I'd be able to live alone on 16k, I've been quoted less rent on a studio flat in central london and after tax 16k is just under 13k and I don't have expensive tastes

are you joking?
£545 is reasonable!
a flat for less than that, in london (?!) is either going to be a dive, have shared facilities or be tiny
there is 'not having expensive tastes', and there is 'having no idea how much things really cost'...
16k is 12.5k after tax, and if you can live on 1k a month - good luck to you!
all i know is, on my salary (which is more than 16k) i could not afford to live by myself

good luck with getting a job, and moving out - they're pretty exciting things to be doing - i can honestly say i have never been happier at any time, graduating, getting a job and moving out has been awesome!

Rich_L · 15-11-2007, 19:10

What do you want to do?

With that degree, move to London, start temping, get random job in finance, £30kish after a year or so pretty much guaranteed (if you're any good that is

)

Also bear in mind if you live on your own, you still pay 75% of council tax, bills get cheaper per person the more people you have, also don't forget TV licence, phone, broadband, travel and suchlike - that £1k a month after tax disappears surprisingly quickly

SidewinderINC · 15-11-2007, 19:22

Sorry, I thought of studio when you said 1Bed for some reason.
I've lived out of home before, I know how much things cost and I feel a little patronised being told I have no idea.

I do understand that living on £1k a month will be very tight but I have worked it out that it is doable with the way I live.

I really want to do lab work/research in microbiology or end up in pharma.

Rich_L · 15-11-2007, 19:29

Heh don't mean to be patronising, have done the same myself when I moved up to London, there's so much awesome stuff to do/places to go out though plus can be a lonely place if your stuck in on your own..anyway enough about that..!

If it's labwork you want, apply to all sorts of places to see if they have vacancies - hospitals, food testing units, all sorts and try and get some lab experience, even as a technician or assistant. Did you do any placements at Uni or a dissertation or even contact with anyone through Uni who may be able to point you in directions of vacancies.

Bear in mind 'who you know' is always important - think about your time at Uni, the lecturers you had, supervisions etc - fire off some e-mails saying you want to get into labwork, do they have any advice or know of vacancies - abuse those contacts!

Pumpkinstew · 16-11-2007, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidewinderINC

I really want to do lab work/research in microbiology or end up in pharma.

I know a few biology grads who ended up in clinical trials. Sounds tedious as anything to me but the wages are good if you stick at it past CTA level.
Lots of places around the M4 corridor between London and Reading.

Try here:
http://www.jobsite.co.uk/channels/scientific.html

SidewinderINC · 16-11-2007, 01:26

Yeah Lonza biologics is in slough, I've been put forward for several jobs there, a shift manufacturing technician job is one I'm hoping for there as it's perfect for my skills and £24kpa

Thanks for that link, a few on there that I hadn't seen before.

15-11-2007, 18:32	#13
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	I don't use heating, never have That really annoyed my housemates last year actually but that's another story! I mean don't complain that it's cold in the middle of december if you're walking around the house in shorts and sleeveless T shirt. And yeah, it wasn't much bigger than that __________________ No Sig.

15-11-2007, 18:33	#14
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Fairy nuff If you end up in London then I'm around somewhere... usually __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

15-11-2007, 19:10	#16
Rich_L Dr Cocktapuss Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seven Sizzles Posts: 1,044	What do you want to do? With that degree, move to London, start temping, get random job in finance, £30kish after a year or so pretty much guaranteed (if you're any good that is ) Also bear in mind if you live on your own, you still pay 75% of council tax, bills get cheaper per person the more people you have, also don't forget TV licence, phone, broadband, travel and suchlike - that £1k a month after tax disappears surprisingly quickly __________________ Last edited by Rich_L; 15-11-2007 at 19:13.

15-11-2007, 19:22	#17
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Sorry, I thought of studio when you said 1Bed for some reason. I've lived out of home before, I know how much things cost and I feel a little patronised being told I have no idea. I do understand that living on £1k a month will be very tight but I have worked it out that it is doable with the way I live. I really want to do lab work/research in microbiology or end up in pharma. __________________ No Sig.

15-11-2007, 19:29	#18
Rich_L Dr Cocktapuss Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seven Sizzles Posts: 1,044	Heh don't mean to be patronising, have done the same myself when I moved up to London, there's so much awesome stuff to do/places to go out though plus can be a lonely place if your stuck in on your own..anyway enough about that..! If it's labwork you want, apply to all sorts of places to see if they have vacancies - hospitals, food testing units, all sorts and try and get some lab experience, even as a technician or assistant. Did you do any placements at Uni or a dissertation or even contact with anyone through Uni who may be able to point you in directions of vacancies. Bear in mind 'who you know' is always important - think about your time at Uni, the lecturers you had, supervisions etc - fire off some e-mails saying you want to get into labwork, do they have any advice or know of vacancies - abuse those contacts! __________________

16-11-2007, 01:26	#20
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Yeah Lonza biologics is in slough, I've been put forward for several jobs there, a shift manufacturing technician job is one I'm hoping for there as it's perfect for my skills and £24kpa Thanks for that link, a few on there that I hadn't seen before. __________________ No Sig.